Lions' Latest on Kerby Joseph Shows How Much Injury Pain He's In
The Detroit Lions' defense has regained its championship form this season. While defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has gotten the most out of the group and star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson’s return was rewarded with a lucrative contract extension, there have been other players leading the way, including Lions safety Kerby Joseph.
Joseph was another player who was in the Lions’ most recent wave of extensions, and he’s performed well with 18 total tackles, three interceptions, and four pass deflections in the first six games. But the performance has been even more impressive considering he’s been dealing with a knee injury.
The injury, which was suffered in a Week 4 win over the Cleveland Browns, has been bugging Joseph all season, and he’s even left a pair of games to go get treatment. Secondary coach Jim O’Neil also added to the concerns with Joseph’s knee, indicating that he’s been putting in plenty of work to make sure he’s on the field.
“He’s working coaches’ hours because he’s here early in the morning getting treatment,” O’Neil said via Benjamin Raven of MLive.com. “He’s in the meeting rooms after getting treatment. He’s doing everything. I know last week he spent the whole week, you know, taking care of himself and doing some things out on his own.”
Kerby Joseph Fighting Through Injury, but Lions Coach Sees No Drop-Off
O’Neil’s comments indicate that Joseph is working through a significant injury, and his grades at Pro Football Focus indicate it may be affecting his performance. After logging a 90.7 overall grade and 91.5 coverage grade with Detroit last season, those numbers have dropped to 59.1 overall and 57.4, respectively, this season. Even if
While he’s still grabbing interceptions and has 20 since coming into the league as a third-round pick in the 2022 draft, the analytics say he hasn’t been playing at the All-Pro level he did a year ago. But O’Neil disputes that claim, noting he hasn’t seen a drop off through the injury.
“Just how he’s attacked it professionally, and how he’s helped some of the young guys that have come in, too... But when he goes, I haven’t seen a drop,” O’Neil continued. “I think he’s been the same Kerby that we’re all used to seeing. I’m sure there are a few plays this year that he would like to have back. You know what I mean? But that’s with everybody.”
The Lions have played well despite Joseph’s injury, but they could use the All-Pro version of him soon. Starting cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold are currently on the shelf with injuries, and it remains to be seen if Brian Branch’s new attitude will keep him out of trouble for the remainder of the season.
With that said, the Lions may be able to afford to limit Joseph’s snaps with winnable games against the Minnesota Vikings (Nov. 2), Washington Commanders (Nov. 9), and New York Giants (Nov. 23) on the schedule. But O’Neil’s comments suggest it may not be resolved until after the season, and Joseph will have to play through the pain to help the team.
Kevin Byard III reveals value C.J. Gardner-Johnson provides to Chicago Bears' defense
Kevin Byard III has played a lot of football throughout his 11-NFL career.
Having played 154 games since being drafted in 2016 out of Middle Tennessee, he also understands what a defense needs to be successful. Newly added defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson's style of play and personality are well documented – the Bears’ organization knows firsthand how the veteran defensive back can get in an opposing player's head.
Former Bears wide receivers Javon Wims and Anthony Miller were both ejected after taking swings at Gardner-Johnson during the 2020 NFL season.
Not all of Gardner-Johnson's new teammates are worried about him
Some may view Gardner-Johnson's tactics as a negative, but Byard views his mentality as an asset.
“The things he's done on the field are great and his off the field stuff, in other buildings, I can't speak to that because I wasn't there,” Byard said. “But, for me personally, I'm under the belief that I think on each side of the ball, offense, defense, you need at least one or two of those guys on the field because they bring a certain level of juice. This game is played violently. You need somebody to go in there and be that spark. Obviously, you know the history of this city, Chicago Bulls with Dennis Rodman, sometimes you need guys like that out there. I think our leadership group on this team, we can hold things together and I don't personally think it'll be an issue. He's been around his defense. I have a lot of respect for him. He has a lot of respect for me.”
Maybe Gardner-Johnson will be the Bears’ version of what Rodman provided for the Bulls during the 1990s, someone who plays with an edge and is an opponent you don't want to face, but love having on the team.
What Gardner-Johnson needs to provide, though, is stability at the nickel cornerback position. Kyler Gordon will miss at least four games after going on IR. Johnson said that Gardner-Johnson will play on the inside as he gets reacquainted with Denne Allen's defense.
Allen coached Gardner-Johnson while the two were with the New Orleans Saints from 2019-21. The veteran defensive back primarily played in the slot for those three seasons.
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) October 29, 2025While C.J. Gardner-Johnson was in New Orleans with Dennis Allen as the defensive coordinator and head coach, he played primarily in the slot.
2021 snaps: 477 slot, 66 Box, 9 FS, 23 cnr
2020 snaps: 622 slot, 89 Box, 2 Fs, 62 cnr
2019 snaps: 268 slot, 102 Box, 69 FS, 25 cnr
The Bears understand they added a player in Gardner-Johnson who has a loud personality, and to those outside of the organization, it may be perceived as a distraction. But the Bears’ head coach isn't worried about that outcome with his team.
“We've got a very strong locker room,” Johnson said. “We've got a positive veteran influence in there. I feel very strongly about that group. Nothing's more important than our locker room to be clear with you. That's certainly first and foremost of any decision we make of who we bring in or who we let go. I think we're all aware of how important that is and the fit that he has with that locker room.”
